Life preserver jacket



March 13, 1934. F. L. BROWN LIFE PRESERVER JACKET Filed Aug. 2', 1952 INVENTOR E's aria/f Lea Brown Patented Mar. 13, 1934 PATENT OFFICE LIFE PRESERVER JACKET I Frederick Lee Brown, Greenfield, Ohio, assignor to The American Pad & Textile Company, Greenfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 2, 1932, Serial No. 627,261

4 Claims. (01.. 9-17) This invention relates to a life preserver jacket having improved means thereon for increasing the safety and utility thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide such a jacket which has two distinct sets of fastening means normally utilized simultaneously but operative individually for retaining the jacket in position on the wearer should one of the fastening means become unloosed.

Another object is to provide such a jacket having means precluding upward and downward shifting thereof on the body of the wearer.

Another object is the provision of a device of this kind which may be worn by persons of various sizes, within a considerable range, without danger of accidental removal of the jacket.

Another object is to provide a life preserver and fastening means, therefor which exert an equalized pull or pressure on various parts of the preserver whereby proper balance of the wearer is maintained.

Another object is to provide a device of the kind described which is comfortable in use.

Another object is to provide a life saving jacket which is adapted for children, as well as for adults.

Another object is to produce such a jacket simply, cheaply and eificiently.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the life preserver jacket of this invention with the operation of the fastening means clearly illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1,' and Fig. 3 is a detail view of a modification.

Devices of the class here in question have heretofore possessed certain disadvantages and 40 undersirable features. Among these has been the fact that life preservers were practically all provided with a single set of fastening means, commonly disposed at the front. The positioning of the preserver depended solely on these means, which, if they become unloosed, at once placed the wearer in a possibly dangerous situation. Another disadvantage previously experienced has been the tendency of life preserver jackets to shift upwardly on the body of the wearer, a movement naturally resulting from the buoyancy of the jacket and generally causing restriction of the arms and head as well as discomfort and danger. Another undesirable feature has been the shifting or turning of the preserver on the body of the wearer so that the latter was held in an unbalanced position in the water, always uncomfortable and frequently dangerous. Such disadvantages as these have heretofore been experienced.

The present invention eliminates these causes of discomfort and danger by providing a life saving jacket adapted to be fastened in the front and likewise provided with a pair of straps secured at one end and in spaced relation in the rear of the jacket, passing in crossed relationship between the legs of the wearer, and each fastened at free end to one of the front bottom corner portions of the jacket at a point diagonally opposite its rear point of attachment. This pair of straps is capable of holding the life saving jacket in position should the front fastening means become unloosed, precludes 'upward shifting of the jacket and attendant results, retains the jacket in perfect four point balance, and is in addition, comfortable and durable and adapted for low cost manufacturel With reference to the drawing: The life preserver is in jacket form and comprises the vertically openable body portion 5 which may be made of a double thickness of fabric, as shown in Fig. 2, said fabric being either untreated or waterproof material and stitched together around the edges as at 6 and vertically at regular intervals, as indicated at '7, to provide tubular sections 8, which are stuffed with kapok 12, or other buoyant, substantially non-absorbent material. Arm pits 9 are provided at the top of the jacket and at the upper corners of these, along the top edge of the jacket, the shoulder straps 10 may be secured. On each front edge of the jacket the straps 11 or other fastening means are provided.

At the rear of the jacket, along the bottom edge thereof, a pair of straps 13 and 14 is secured by one end, and in spaced relationship. These straps are crossed and secured together as indicated at 15 and are adapted to be passed between the legs of the wearer, the crossed portion 15 being disposed substantially in the crotch. The free ends of straps 13 and 14, when the jacket is put on, are carried forward and secured in buckles 16, or other attachment means, disposed on opposite sides of the jacket, preferably adjacent the bottom front corner portions of the jacket. It will be seen that each strap has its free end attached at a point substantially diagonally opposite its rear point of attachment so that the pull exerted by these straps is equalized and distributed at four points.

It will further be observed that it is impossible rear portions of the jacket toward one another,

W herebyI theoperative position of' the 'jacket is maintained even though the front fastening means 11 become unloosed.

In Fig. 3 the crossed portion 15 of straps 13 and 14 is shown as having secured upon its inner side a thickened cloth or pad 17 adaptedfor use in instances in which any suggestion of tightness must be avoided.v

The device is comfortable, safe, readily positioned and removed, and adapted for prolonged use. Modifications of its structure appear obvious on considering the means herein set forth. For example the fastening of the jacket up the back instead of thefront would be an apparent variation. Changes such as this, however, are believed to be comprisedwithin the spirit scope of the present invention.

Whatis claimed is:

1. A life' preserver jacket comprising a buoyant body portion split vertically of the front, shoulder straps on said body portion, and a pair of straps secured, each by one of its ends, to the bottom of said body portion at the rear, the straps being adapted to be passed between the legs of the wearer, the free end of one strap being attached-to oneof the front bottom corners'of said body portion and the free end of the second strap being attached to the opposite front bottomcorner, each strap being attached to the front corner disposed substantially diagonally opposite the rear attachment point of the strap whereby said straps are effective for holding the jacket in substantially closed position on the wearer.

2. A life preserver jacket comprising a--buoyant body portion split vertically of the front, shoulder straps on said bodyportion, and a pair of straps secured, each by one of its ends, to the bottom of said body portion at the rear and in spaced relationship with one another, the straps being crossed and secured together intermediate their ends and being adapted to be passed between the legs of the wearer, the free end of one strap being attached to one of the front and bottom corners of said body portion and the free end of the second strap being attached to the opposite front bottom corner, each strap being attached to the front corner disposed substantially diagonally opposite the rear attach-,

ment point of the strap, whereby said straps are effective for'holding the jacket in substantially closed position on the wearer.

3. A'life preserver jacket comprising a buoyant body portion split vertically-of the front, front fastening means and shoulder straps associated with said body portion, and a. pair of straps secured, each by one of its ends, to the bottom of said body portion at the rear and in spaced relationship with one another, the straps being adapted to be crossed and passed between the legs of the wearer, the free end of one strap being attached to one of the front bottom corners of said body portion and the free end of the second strap being attached to the opposite front bottom corner, each strap being attached to the front corner disposed substantiallydiagonally opposite the rear attachment point of the strap, whereby saidstraps are effective for ho1d-. ing the jacket in substantially closed position on the. wearer,- should said front fastening means become unfastened.

4. A life preserver jacket comprising a buoyant. body portion splitvertically of the front, front fastening means and shoulder straps associated with said body portion, and a pair of straps secured, each by one of its ends,.to the bottom of said body portion at the rear end in spaced relationship with one another, the straps being adapted to be crossed andpassed between the legs of the wearer, the free end of one strap being attached to one of the frontbottom corners of said body portion and the free end of the secondstrap being attached to the opposite front bottom corner, each strap being attached to the front corner disposed substantially diagonally opposite the rear attachment point of the strap, whereby said straps are eifectivefor'holding the jacket in substantially closed position 

